Srey Cheab is a 37-year-old seafood seller from Cambodia. She has two sons and one daughter, and enjoys watching Khmer dramas on television in her free time.
Ten years ago, Srey Cheab developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her blurry vision and irritation. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Srey Cheab learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and a half hours seeking treatment. Srey Cheab needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $201. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for July 10.
She says, “I hope that I will be able to see clearly again and can return to my work.”